Apparatus for a molecular imprinted protective face mask

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a molecular imprinted protective face mask comprising a supportive structure, a surface material that receives and retains a molecular imprint and that is positioned to contact airborne molecules during use, a molecular imprint of a bioactive molecule wherein an imprinted cavity is at least one of a bioactive molecule with a molecular configuration that captures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule and a protein with a binding site that captures a specific molecule.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a protective face mask and more particularlyrelates to a molecular imprinted anti-microbial protective face mask.

BACKGROUND

Protective face masks of various designs have traditionally been used inmedical and industrial settings to shield the face and respiratorysystem of the wearer from infectious agents, particulate matter, andnoxious gasses. Various protective face masks have been designed toexclude various materials or particle sizes. For example masks with adesignation ending in “95”, have a 95 percent efficiency while masksending in a 99 have a 99 percent efficiency. Masks ending in 100 are99.97 percent efficient which is the same as a HEPA quality filter. An“N” labeling designates “non-oil;” signifying that the mask is effectivein a work environment with no oil particles present. Other masks ratingsare R (resistant to oil for 8 hours) and P (oil proof).

Similarly the “0.3” designation indicates that the masks filters outcontaminants like dusts, mists and fumes with minimum particulate sizeof 0.3 microns. The filtration material on a mask is typically anelectrostatic non-woven polypropylene fiber. Additional technologies mayinfuse mask surfaces with various metal ions such as copper to providesome degree of antimicrobial function. However, current mask surfacecoating technologies do not incorporate all desirable aspects, such asagent specific anti-microbial action. Thus, a need exists for a deviceincorporating the action of a specific molecules and/or a mixture ofmolecules targeted to specific agents including specific pathogens.

SUMMARY

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need existsfor protective face mask that would protect against specific infectiousagents. It should further be apparent that a need exists for aprotective face mask with anti-microbial properties. Beneficially, suchan apparatus would be re-usable, and self-cleaning.

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable protective face masks. Accordingly, the present invention hasbeen developed to provide a molecular imprinted protective face maskthat overcomes many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in theart.

Provided herein is a molecular imprint apparatus comprising a face maskor similar personal protective equipment for cleansing air, and/ordetecting hazardous substances and infectious pathogens in the air. Invarious embodiments the apparatus comprises an air filtering componentcomprising one or more air-permeable layers of molecular imprintedfabric, woven material, non-woven material and/or a porous materialpositioned to contact airborne and/or microdroplet-borne moleculesduring use and comprises a bioactive molecular imprint wherein animprinted cavity is of a bioactive molecule that captures a specificairborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule and/or of a protein with abinding site that captures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-bornemolecule. The molecular imprints on the surface of the threads of thefabric and/or the interior pores of the porous material may attenuate,neutralize, and/or detect toxic gases, toxic fumes, hazardous aerosols,or infectious pathogens.

In certain embodiments the air filtering component comprises anair-permeable material comprising paper, polymer foam, woven fabric,knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, melt-blown fabric, ion-infused fabric,a non-fabric material and/or a hydrophilic material to capturemicroscopic airborne droplets to enable the interaction of the molecularimprints with airborne hazardous substances and/or infectious pathogensin an aqueous environment. The one or more layers of the filteringcomponent may catalyze a biochemical reaction with an airborne and/ormicrodroplet-borne agent to attenuate, neutralize, and/or detect theagent.

The apparatus sometimes comprises an electronic enhancement comprisingat least one of an interdigital electrode, a semiconductor, ananoparticle quantum dot, a nano-island, a quantum wire, othernanostructured component, a piezoelectric element, a semiconductor, anacoustic waveguide, an optical fiber, an ultrasonic transducer, and alaser. In various embodiments the electronic enhancement at least one ofgenerates a static and/or time-varying electrical field, produces anelectron wave function configuration that dynamically reconfigures theelectron charge distribution within the molecular imprint, enablestuning of the imprinted cavity, generates at least one of ultrasonic andelectromagnetic waves, and mechanically agitates a biomolecule to induceits interaction with or release from the molecular imprint cavity.

Layer (n) of the apparatus sometimes catalyzes a particular biochemicalreaction (p) in a multistep reaction with an airborne and/ormicrodroplet-borne agent. Layer (n+1) may catalyze a successivebiochemical reaction (p+1) in a multistep reaction with an airborneand/or microdroplet-borne agent. In some embodiments each layer of thefiltering component catalyzes a particular step of a biochemicalreaction with an airborne and/or microdroplet-borne agent to attenuate,neutralize, and/or detect the agent. The filtering component maycomprise one or more layers of porous material comprising fibers of atleast one of a plurality of molecular imprint types, conductiveelectrodes, sensor wires, optical waveguides, and acoustic waveguides.

In various embodiments the plurality of molecular imprint types catalyzea multistep biochemical reaction to attenuate, neutralize, or detect anairborne and/or microdroplet-borne agent. The plurality of molecularimprint types may simultaneously catalyze one or more biochemicalreactions to at least one of attenuate neutralize, and detect one ormore hazardous airborne and/or microdroplet-borne agents.

The sensor wires may read the binding state of molecular imprintcavities to detect hazardous airborne and/or microdroplet-borne agents.The air filtering component sometimes comprises a transducer comprisingan interdigital electrode and/or other device for at least one offine-tuning the molecular imprint to enhance its response to a range ofmolecules, provide electrical energy to free molecules from theimprinted binding site, re-activate the specific molecule capturefunction of the imprint site, and interact with the molecular imprint tofunction as a biosensor.

The apparatus biosensor may comprise a molecular imprinted polymersurface comprising at least one of surface plasmon resonance (SPR),surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), fluorescence quenching ofsemiconductor quantum dots, photoluminescence, UV-visible spectroscopy,electrochemical sensors (conductivity, capacitance, impedance,potentiometry, and voltametry measurements), piezoelectric (quartzcrystal microbalance, surface acoustic wave (SAW), pulse-echoultrasound, through-transmission ultrasound, and phased-arrayultrasound) sensors, and biomimetic microchips with micropatternedimprinted polymers. In some embodiments the conductive electrodefunctions as an interdigital electrode for enhancing, modulating and/orreading the binding state of the imprinted cavity.

The interdigital electrode sometimes comprises at least one ofcomb-shaped interlocking arrays of straight parallel electrodes, afan-shaped array of radially-oriented electrodes, an array ofconcentrically-oriented circular electrodes, and arrays consisting ofelectrodes arranged in more complex geometries such as elliptical,parabolic, hyperbolic, and straight-line angles.

In various embodiments the apparatus biosensor triggers re-tuning theimprinted cavity in response to at least one of a completed reaction anda changing molecular environment. At least one of the air filtrationcomponent and the molecular imprint cavity may comprise a biosensor forat least one of a specific health condition, a specific type ofpathogen, a specific type of pollutant, a specific type of allergen, anda specific environment or condition and/or may be customized to aspecific user or set of users.

The apparatus may comprise an alarm and/or a triggerable reservoir ofinhalable or other appropriate medication. In some embodiments thetriggerable reservoir of medication comprises at least one of a loadedmolecular imprint cavity and other storage medium. The specific user orset of users may comprise persons with compromised lung function and thebiosensor may sense restricted air flow through a porous material andtrigger an alarm and/or release of a bronchodilator and/or other lungtreatment. In various embodiments the biosensor is tuned to sensespecific volatile organic molecules in the exhaled breath of the userand to trigger an alarm and/or the release of an appropriate medication.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention may be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims or maybe learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are nottherefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic line drawing depicting an embodiment of amolecular imprinted face mask as worn by an individual, comprising afiltering component and a component that holds the filtering componentsecurely against the front of the face over the nose and mouth;

FIG. 2 is a schematic line drawing and expanded section view depictingan embodiment of a molecular imprinted face mask consisting of asingle-layered filtering component, composed of a molecular imprintedfabric or other porous material;

FIG. 3 is a schematic line drawing and expanded section view depictingan embodiment of a molecular imprinted face mask consisting of adouble-layered filtering component, composed of fabric or other porousmaterial layers with molecular imprints, different types of molecularimprints, conductive electrodes, microsensors, sensor wires, opticalwaveguides, and/or acoustic waveguides;

FIG. 4 is a schematic line drawing and expanded section view depictingan embodiment of a molecular imprinted face mask consisting of a wovenfiltering component, composed of fibers with molecular imprints,different types of molecular imprints, conductive electrodes, sensorwires, optical waveguides, and/or acoustic waveguides.

FIG. 5 is a schematic line and surface drawing depicting an expandedview of an embodiment of an electronically enhanced molecular imprintedface mask in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic line and surface drawing depicting an expandedsection view of an embodiment of an electronically embedded molecularimprint protective face mask in accordance with the present invention,showing semiconductor and nanoparticle quantum dots embedded within amask element in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic line and surface drawing depicting an embodimentof a system for an electronically enhanced molecular imprint protectiveface mask in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

Molecular imprinting is an advancing technique in the medical devicefield because of its ability to mimic biologically active binding sites.Molecular imprinting uses artificial binding sites of proteins, sugars,and other biological compounds in order to capture molecules. Numeroustwo-dimensional and three-dimensional techniques are known in the artfor imprinting of surface proteins. Techniques using silica have shownsuccessful specificity for imprinting complex shapes such as hemoglobin.Biomedical applications have utilized molecular imprinting for ex vivodiagnostic methods such as immunoassays (antibody detection), analyticalseparations, and biosensors for detecting changes in blood sugar.Molecular imprinting is also used in the development of other biosensorsand for diagnostic detection of viruses by interacting with antibodies.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details areprovided to convey a thorough understanding of embodiments of theinvention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, thatthe invention may be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a molecular imprinted face mask 100 asworn by an individual, comprising an outer surface 102 that holds afiltering component 104 securely against the front of the face over thenose and mouth and a user. The outer surface may comprise anair-permeable material including without limitation paper, woven fabric,knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, melt-blown fabric, ion-infused fabric,polymer foam, or other appropriate material as known in the art.

In various embodiments the filtering component 104 comprises a fabricand/or porous material for air to pass through. The surface of thethreads of the fabric and/or the interior pores of the porous materialmay be coated with molecular imprints that capture, attenuate,neutralize, and/or detect toxic gases, toxic fumes, hazardous aerosols,or infectious pathogens. In certain embodiments a single layer of amolecular imprinted fabric, woven, or non-woven material is used as thefiltering component. The fabric or other woven or non-woven materialsometimes comprises more than one type of fiber or other material and/ormore than one type of molecular imprint. Different types of molecularimprints sometimes attenuate and/or neutralize more than one airborneagent. Different types of molecular imprints sometimes generate amulti-step process in the woven matrix to attenuate and/or neutralize anairborne agent.

FIG. 2 depicts an expanded view of an embodiment of a molecularimprinted face mask 100 comprising a single-layered filtering component104, an outer surface 102, a thin polymer film 202, and molecularimprints 204 on surface of the polymer film 202. Environmental air 206passes through the filtering component 104 and filtered air 208 emerges.

In some embodiments the outer surface 102 is coated with the thinpolymer film 202. The filtering component 104 may comprise a molecularimprinted fabric or other porous material. The polymer film 202 may be amolecular imprinted polymer with imprinted sites 204 that in variousembodiments may capture, sense, destroy, and/or release bacteria,viruses, medications, and various airborne particles.

A molecular imprinted polymer 202 may be created by mixing monomers ofthe polymer with the molecule (known as the template) to be imprinted.First, the monomers cluster and conform around the template. Second, themonomers polymerize with the template in place. Third, the template isremoved from the polymer, thus leaving a mold or imprint 204 of themolecule in a polymer matrix. The monomers can be polymerized intonanoparticles or thin films. To create the molecular imprinted face mask100 described herein, the monomers may be polymerized as a thin film 202on the porous surface 102 of the face mask 100 or on the surfaces offibers comprising a fabric or woven filtering component. Alternative,the monomers may be polymerized directly as fibers and incorporated intoa fabric or woven filtering component.

Various methods for the fabrication of molecular imprinted polymers asthin films on a solid substrate are known in the art, and include spincoating, polymer brushes, dip coating using a silicon substrate,self-assembling monolayers, drop coating, spray coating, grafting,electropolymerization, and sol-gel processes. Micropatterned thin filmsof molecular imprinted polymers can also be manufactured using variouslithography methods such as UV-mask lithography, soft lithography,micro-stereo lithography, and nanoimprint lithography.

The molecular imprinted face mask 100 may be fabricated in a variety ofdifferent models comprising different sets of molecular imprints 204. Amodel could then be available for capturing various types of pathogensincluding bacteria and viruses such as the COVID-19 virus. In certainembodiments pathogens trapped by the molecular imprints 204 may also beinactivated or killed. Mechanisms may include, without limitation,chemical, biological, electrical, sonic, and UV light, applications asdescribed above.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a multi-layer molecular imprinted facemask 300 in accordance with the present invention. As depicted, themulti-layer molecular face mask 300 comprises an outer surface 102, afiltering component 104, a thin polymer film 202, molecular imprints 204on surface of polymer film 202, and an additional filtering layer 302.In various embodiments of the invention, two or more layers of amolecular imprinted fabric or other material are used to generate amulti-step process to attenuate, neutralize, and/or detect toxic,hazardous, or infectious agents in the air. Two or more layers of amolecular imprinted fabric may be used to detect toxic, hazardous, orinfectious airborne agents in one layer, and to attenuate and/orneutralize these agents in the other layer.

The strategically placed imprints 204 as shown on the molecularimprinted face mask 300 may be those of an antigen or binding site for abacteria or virus such as COVID-19. Imprinting of an antigen or bindingsite may be accomplished through template imprinting techniques. Antigenor binding site molecules are obtained as a template by absorption ontoa silicate mineral along with a buffer. The sample is heated and left tocool. Afterwards the sample is rinsed with deionized water to remove thebuffer. The remaining sample may be coated with a disaccharide. A plasmadeposition (hexafluoropropylene) may be deposited onto the sample whereit will be placed in a plasma reactor to remove the template protein.Finally, a solvent may wash away any remains of the template protein.

In certain embodiments the thin polymer film 202 covers majority of mask300 area for biochemically interacting with airborne particles. Apattern of molecular imprints 204 of different molecular species on apolymer film 202 may be used as described above. Molecular imprints mayfunction as “phantom” or “virtual” molecules or binding sites to captureand immobilize pathogen molecules, to sense and report them, to kill orinactive them, and to release them during cleaning.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a woven filtering component 400,composed of fibers with molecular imprints 402, different types ofmolecular imprints 404, positively charged conductive electrodes 406,negatively charged conductive electrodes 408, sensor wires, opticalwaveguides, and/or acoustic waveguides 410. In some embodiments anelectronically generated physical mechanism may release proteins fromtrapped on the surface of the polymer film 202. Ultrasonic waves may begenerated in the mask 100, 300 or an external device 702 and transmittedto the mask surface 102 and polymer film 202 via waveguide principles.An acoustic waveguide 410 may comprise metal incorporated into thefiltering component 104. Such waveguide principles are identical tothose used to propagate light along an optical fiber. In this manner theprotective face mask 100 may be safely cleaned between uses andpre-loaded molecular imprints may be emptied of medication and/or othercargo.

In certain embodiments conductive wires function as interdigitalelectrodes 406 and 408 that enhance, modulate and/or read the bindingstate of the imprints 204. Optical and/or acoustic waveguides 410 mayfunction as sensor components in conjunction with the molecular imprints204. Optical and/or acoustic waveguides 410 in a fabric, woven, ornon-woven material may function to attenuate or neutralize a hazardousairborne agent. For example, ultraviolet (UV) light transmitted byoptical waveguides 410 may attenuate or neutralize a virus captured bymolecular imprints 202 on the optical waveguides 410, and/or other fibercomponents in the fabric, woven or non-woven matrix.

FIG. 5 depicts an expanded view of embodiment of an enhanced molecularimprinted filtering component 500 in accordance with the presentinvention. As depicted the electronically enhanced molecular imprintedfiltering component 500 comprises a polymer coating 202, molecularimprints 204, and interdigital electrodes 502 embedded within thefiltering component 104, embedded within an air-permeable polymersupport substrate such as polyurethane foam 504, and/or positioned onthe surface of the mask 102 as biosensors. Molecular imprints 204 may beloaded with material 506 comprising medications or other substances.

Biosensing molecular imprinted polymer surface technologies includesurface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques, surface-enhanced Ramanspectroscopy (SERS), fluorescence quenching of semiconductor quantumdots, photoluminescence, UV-visible spectroscopy, electrochemicalsensors (conductivity, capacitance, impedance, potentiometry, andvoltammetry measurements), piezoelectric (quartz crystal microbalance)sensors, and biomimetic microchips with micropatterned imprintedpolymers. The molecular imprint biofunctional devices provided hereinmay combine biosensors with bioactive molecular imprints and apply themto a protective face mask.

In certain embodiments the electronically enhanced molecular imprintedfiltering component 500 detects molecules in contact with the molecularimprints 204. The electronically enhanced molecular imprinted filteringcomponent 500 sometimes detects specific pathogen molecules, providinginformation on probable exposure and the relevant venue. In variousembodiments the electronically enhanced molecular imprinted filteringcomponent 500 detects particles, pollutants, and gasses, and may alertthe wearer to the status of the breathing environment in real time.

In some embodiments the molecular imprinted protective face mask isconfigured for a specific type of pathogen, a specific type ofpollutant, a specific type of allergen, a specific environment orcondition and/or is customized to a specific user or set of users Theelectronically enhanced molecular imprinted filtering componentsometimes comprises a triggerable reservoir of airborne medication 504which may comprise a loaded molecular imprints 202 and/or other storagemedium. The specific user or set of users sometimes comprises personswith compromised lung function. The biosensor may sense restricted airflow through the mask and trigger release of a bronchodilator and/orother lung treatment. In certain embodiments the biosensor is tuned tosense specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breathof the user and to trigger an alert and/or release of an appropriatemedication. Non-limiting examples of using the molecular imprinted facemask to sense VOCs in exhaled breath to diagnose, monitor, and/or treatmedical conditions include asthma, hyperglycemia in diabetic patients,disease progression in patients with renal failure, and cancer.

FIG. 6 depicts an expanded section view of an embodiment of anelectronically enhanced molecular imprinted face mask 500 in accordancewith the present invention. As depicted, the electronically enhancedmolecular imprinted face mask is comprised of a fabric or wovenfiltering component 402 with simply structured molecular imprintedfibers 602, with molecular imprints on the surface of the fiber 604 andelectronically enhanced with interdigital electrodes 502. Alternatively,complexly structured molecular imprinted fibers may be used with surfacemolecular imprints 604 combined with internal electrical components 602,606, 610, 618, and 624. These complexly structured fibers include thosewith a conductive electrode core 608, a coaxial conductive core 612 andconductive shield 616, a conductive electrode core 622 surrounded byquantum dots 620, and/or multiple conductive cores 626. As depicted,fibers with multiple conductive cores may be configured as a ribbon 624,increasing the surface area of the fiber and thereby the density ofmolecular imprints 604.

In one embodiment the electronically enhanced molecular imprinted facemask 500 comprises a polymer film 202, molecular imprints 604, anembedded semiconductor or piezoelectric polymer 614, embedded quantumwires 626, or nanoparticle quantum dots 620. In some embodiments,quantum dots 620 underneath the molecular imprints 604 are used toconfigure the imprints 604. In certain embodiments the quantum dots 620or wires 626 are custom-engineered to produce unique electron wavefunction configurations that modulate the response of the molecularimprints 604. The quantum dots 620, or wires 626 may be used todynamically reconfigure the electron charge distribution within themolecular imprints 604, thereby creating a tunable molecular imprint 604at the quantum level. Such charge distribution may influence processessuch as the capture, sensing, reporting, deactivation, or destruction ofpathogens or other molecules.

For non-limiting example, static electric fields (also known asdirect-current or DC fields) have been shown to repel, attract, orcapture airborne molecules, particles, or gases. Such static electricfields are sometimes generated on the surface of the electronicallyenhanced molecular imprinted face mask 500, with the use of interdigitalelectrodes 502 deposited onto or into the surface of an insulatingmaterial (e.g. polyurethane foam), but lying beneath the polymer film202 or molecular imprinted fabric 402, and corresponding molecularimprints 604.

In various embodiments electric fields, ultrasonic waves,electromagnetic waves, or quantum dots provide additional energy to freemolecules from the imprint binding sites. This may function in thefabrication of the molecular imprints and in re-activation of thebinding function of imprint sites that have been de-activated by thebonding of free molecules to the imprints.

In certain embodiments high frequency ultrasonic waves (10 MHz-10 GHz)or light (infrared to ultraviolet) may impact pathogens or othermaterials bound to the molecular imprints 204. The ultrasonic or lightwaves may be generated in the electronically enhanced molecularimprinted face mask 500 or in an attachment and conducted to the facemask 500 via waveguide principles, including without limitation anacoustic waveguide or optical fibers embedded into the face mask 500.The electronically enhanced molecular imprinted face mask 500 sometimescomprises a semiconductor. In certain embodiments the semiconductorcomprises silicon into which ultrasonic transducers or lasers arefabricated on microchips and embedded into the filtering component 104to locally excite the molecular imprints.

In certain embodiments high-frequency ultrasonic waves (10 MHz-10 GHz)are generated locally in the electronically enhanced molecular imprintedface mask 500 by embedded piezoelectric elements and conductiveelectrodes 612, 614, and 616. In some embodiments an ultrasonic wave isgenerated on the electronically enhanced molecular face mask component500 that mechanically agitates bound protein molecules or othermaterials and induces their separation from the imprints 204.Piezoelectric elements may include but are not limited to fibers andthin films.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of a system for an electronically enhancedmolecular imprinted protective face mask in accordance with the presentinvention, the system comprising an electronically enhanced molecularimprinted protective face mask 500, an attachment 702, a supply tube704, a medication repository 706, a power supply component 708, and adetection component 710. The attachment 702 may be connected to the facemask 500 either physically or remotely. In certain embodiments electriccurrent, light waves, sound waves or other energy is generated in theattachment 702 by a power supply component and conducted to the facemask 500 via wires, tape, channels, optical waveguides, or other conduit712. In some embodiments the attachment 702 is a triggering device thatcommunicates with the mask 500 to generate an energetic response withinthe mask 500. In various embodiments the attachment 702 comprises atriggerable repository for inhalable or other appriopriate medication706. Medication may be supplied to the mask 500 via a tube 704 or otherchannel. The medication repository 706 may be located on the attachment702 or in any convenient location on the face mask 500.

In some embodiments, the attachment 702 contains a detection component710 to electronically process sensor signals received from the mask 500via wires, tape, channels, optical waveguides, wireless radio-frequencycommunication, or other conduit 712. In some embodiments, the detectioncomponent 710 also provides a readable output to the mask wearer on thelevel and/or type of hazardous substance or infectious pathogen detectedby the face mask 500. In certain embodiments, the detection component710 generates a triggering signal based on sensor input from the mask500. The triggering signal is communicated via electrical wires 714 tothe medication repository 706, where it triggers the release ofmedication. In certain embodiments, the triggering signal from thedetection component 710 is communicated via electrical wires 714 to thepower supply component 708, where it triggers at least one offine-tuning the molecular imprint to enhance its response to a range ofmolecules, providing electrical energy to free molecules from theimprinted binding site, re-activating the specific molecule capturefunction of the imprint site, and interacting with the molecular imprintto function as a biosensor.

EXAMPLES Example 1: The Manufacture of a Molecular Imprinted Face Mask

A procedure for creating molecular imprints on face mask comprises thefollowing steps. (1) Molecules of a specific airborne molecule (forexample, COVID-19 virus) or a specific protein that functions as anantigen, antibody, or binding site for the airborne molecule areabsorbed onto the surface of a thin mica sheet. (2) A buffer is added toneutralize the pH of the mica-protein surface. (3) The mica sheet-buffersolution is heated and subsequently cooled. (4) The mica sheet is rinsedwith deionized water and spin cast with a disaccharide to allow coating.

The hydroxyl groups on the disaccharide molecules, combined with thesurface polar residues of the protein molecules, facilitate theformation of hydrogen bonds during dehydration. Hydrogen bonds are vitalfor molecular recognition in biological signaling. The disaccharidecoating also protects the protein molecules from dehydration and damageduring the following plasma deposition process, thus preserving thefidelity of the imprinted cavities.

(5) A thin fluoropolymer film is deposited onto the mica surface usingradio-frequency glow-discharge plasma deposition andhexafluoropropylene. (6) The fluoropolymer film is removably attached toa temporary support surface. The surface provides mechanical support forthe fluoropolymer film. (7) The mica sheet is peeled from the supportedfluoropolymer film. (8) The protein molecules are removed from thefluoropolymer film using a solvent wash, leaving behind molecularimprints of the protein. (9) The fluoropolymer film is incorporated intoa woven or non-woven air-permeable surface.

For the synthesis of molecular imprinted fibers, silica capillaries areused as molds to replace the mica sheet. As in the procedure above, thetarget molecules are absorbed onto the interior surface of thecapillary. The support polymer is then introduced into the capillary andpolymerized. The capillaries are then etched away to free the imprintedpolymer fibers. Another approach for the synthesis of molecularimprinted fibers is to use silica fibers as a permanent substrate forthe molecularly imprinted polymer. The silica fibers are coated with athin layer of the molecularly imprinted polymer and the polymer is thenpolymerized.

The above procedures may be utilized to molecularly imprint a set ofdiverse proteins onto a face mask in a specific spatial pattern.Non-limiting examples of proteins and other macromolecules that could beused for each molecular-imprinted polymer region on the face maskinclude the following: (1) angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2),which functions as the entry point into cells for the COVID-19 virus andother coronaviruses; (2) complex sugar chains (glycans) such as sialicacids of various chemical forms, which function as the entry point intocells for influenza viruses; and (3) receptor molecules in theimmunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF), which function as entry points intocells for the measles virus and rhinovirus (common cold).

In the event that certain molecular imprints do not function similarlyto their protein molecule counterparts, molecular “outprints” can becreated by a stamping method that first creates the molecular imprintson nanoparticles. A polymer film is then stamped with these molecularlyimprinted nanoparticles, creating a negative image of the molecularimprint, or an outprint. These molecular outprints will have the samepositive shape as the original molecule, and may, therefore, have afunctionality more similar to the original molecule.

Example 2: Detection of Virus Proteins

Protein-based molecular imprints have additionally been explored for thedetection of virus proteins and even whole viruses. In some cases, apolymer is cross-linked and co-polymerized in the presence of a targetmolecule or protein. This target acts as a template for creating a cast.Once the cast is removed, it creates space for an active binding site.Molecular imprinting is supported by extensive research in the lastdecade, yet the application of imprinting protein-binding sites on drysurfaces for capture, sensing, activation and deactivation of airbornemolecules remains to be investigated.

Previous studies have demonstrated the binding of influenza viruses tomolecular imprints using aqueous solutions of viruses in contact with animprinted polymer. In the event that an aqueous environment may benecessary for the binding of viruses to molecular imprints, evidencesupports a mechanism for the capture, sensing, activation anddeactivation of airborne viruses by a molecular imprinted face mask.This evidence includes the fact that many pathogenic viruses such asinfluenza and COVID-19 are primarily spread by microscopic airbornedroplets (microdroplets) that are dispersed from an infected person bycoughing, sneezing, singing, and/or speaking. Upon passing through amolecular imprinted face mask, the microdroplets are trapped by thefibers 402 and/or pores 504 in the mask's filtering component 104, andsimultaneously come into contact with molecular imprints 604 on thefiber and/or pore surfaces. Consequently, the viruses are brought intocontact with the molecular imprints in the aqueous environment of themicrodroplets.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A biofunctional molecular imprint apparatus, theapparatus comprising a face mask or similar personal protectiveequipment for cleansing air, and/or detecting hazardous substances andinfectious pathogens in the air, the apparatus comprising: a. an airfiltering component comprising one or more air-permeable layers ofmolecular imprinted fabric, woven material, non-woven material and/or aporous material positioned to contact airborne and/or microdroplet-bornemolecules during use; and b. a bioactive molecular imprint wherein animprinted cavity is of at least one of a bioactive molecule thatcaptures a specific airborne and/or microdroplet-borne molecule and aprotein with a binding site that captures a specific airborne and/ormicrodroplet-borne molecule.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the airfiltering component comprises an air-permeable material comprising atleast one of paper, polymer foam, woven fabric, knitted fabric,non-woven fabric, melt-blown fabric, ion-infused fabric, a non-fabricmaterial and a hydrophilic material to capture microscopic airbornedroplets to enable the interaction of the molecular imprints withairborne hazardous substances and/or infectious pathogens in an aqueousenvironment and wherein a captured molecule may be removed by anappropriate solvent wash.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the oneor more layers of the filtering component catalyze a biochemicalreaction with an airborne and/or microdroplet-borne agent to attenuate,neutralize, and/or detect the agent.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 furthercomprising an electronic enhancement comprising at least one of aninterdigital electrode, a semiconductor, a nanoparticle quantum dot, anano-island, a quantum wire, other nanostructured component, apiezoelectric element, a semiconductor, an acoustic waveguide, anoptical fiber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a laser.
 5. The apparatusof claim 4, wherein the electronic enhancement at least one of generatesa static and time-varying electrical field, produces an electron wavefunction configuration that dynamically reconfigures the electron chargedistribution within the molecular imprint, enables tuning of theimprinted cavity, generates at least one of ultrasonic andelectromagnetic waves, and mechanically agitates a biomolecule to induceits interaction with or release from the molecular imprint cavity. 6.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein layer (n) catalyzes a particularbiochemical reaction (p) in a multistep reaction with an airborne and/ormicrodroplet-borne agent.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein layer(n+1) catalyzes a successive biochemical reaction (p+1) in a multistepreaction with an airborne and/or microdroplet-borne agent.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein each layer of the filtering componentcatalyzes a particular step of a biochemical reaction with an airborneand/or microdroplet-borne agent to attenuate, neutralize, and/or detectthe agent.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the filtering componentcomprises one or more layers of porous material comprising fiberscomprising at least one of a plurality of molecular imprint types,conductive electrodes, sensor wires, optical waveguides, and acousticwaveguides.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pluralitymolecular imprint types catalyze a multistep biochemical reaction toattenuate, neutralize, or detect an airborne and/or microdroplet-borneagent.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of molecularimprint types simultaneously catalyze one or more biochemical reactionsto at least one of attenuate neutralize, and detect one or morehazardous airborne and/or microdroplet-borne agents.
 12. The apparatusof claim 11, wherein the sensor wires read the binding state ofmolecular imprint cavities to detect hazardous airborne and/ormicrodroplet-borne agents.
 13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the airfiltering component comprises a transducer comprising an interdigitalelectrode and other device for at least one of fine-tuning the molecularimprint to enhance its response to a range of molecules, providingelectrical energy to free molecules from the imprinted binding site,re-activating the specific molecule capture function of the imprintsite, and interacting with the molecular imprint to function as abiosensor.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the biosensor comprisesa molecular imprinted polymer surface comprising at least one of surfaceplasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS),fluorescence quenching of semiconductor quantum dots, photoluminescence,UV-visible spectroscopy, electrochemical sensors (conductivity,capacitance, impedance, potentiometry, and voltametry measurements),piezoelectric (quartz crystal microbalance, surface acoustic wave (SAW),pulse-echo ultrasound, through-transmission ultrasound, and phased-arrayultrasound) sensors, and biomimetic microchips with micropatternedimprinted polymers.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a conductiveelectrode functions as an interdigital electrode for at least one ofenhancing, modulating and reading the binding state of the imprintedcavity.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the interdigital electrodecomprises at least one of comb-shaped interlocking arrays of straightparallel electrodes, a fan-shaped array of radially-oriented electrodes,an array of concentrically-oriented circular electrodes, and arraysconsisting of electrodes arranged in more complex geometries such aselliptical, parabolic, hyperbolic, and straight-line angles.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16 wherein the biosensor triggers re-tuning theimprinted cavity in response to at least one of a completed reaction anda changing molecular environment.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 whereinat least one of the air filtration component and the molecular imprintcavity comprises a biosensor for at least one of a specific healthcondition, a specific type of pathogen, a specific type of pollutant, aspecific type of allergen, and a specific environment or conditionand/or is customized to a specific user or set of users.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18 further comprising at least one of an alarm and atriggerable reservoir of inhalable or other appropriate medication. 20.The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the triggerable reservoir ofmedication comprises at least one of a loaded molecular imprint cavityand other storage medium.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein thespecific user or set of users comprises persons with compromised lungfunction and wherein a biosensor senses restricted air flow through aporous material and triggers an alarm and/or release of a bronchodilatorand/or other lung treatment.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein thebiosensor is tuned to sense specific volatile organic molecules in theexhaled breath of the user and to trigger an alarm and/or the release ofan appropriate medication.